3 Things Manchester United Should Test in Capital One Cup Clash v Middlesbrough

When Ipswich Town visited Manchester United in the Capital One Cup earlier this season, Red Devils manager Louis van Gaal played the fixture with a relatively straight bat, the inclusion of Andreas Pereira being the only nod to the experimental traditions of this competition.

Middlesbrough should not be taken lightly, given their Premier League ambitions. They currently sit in fourth in the fiercely competitive Championship, five points off top spot.

David Jones/Getty Images

However, Boro manager Aitor Karanka has "hinted that he is likely to ring the changes ahead of Wednesday’s Capital One Cup tie at Manchester United," according to Philip Tallentire of the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette's website, Gazette Live. 

Karanka said: "We have to be careful with the game on Wednesday because we have a lot of players with four yellow cards, a few players are injured and our squad is not big so."

With Karanka set to ring the changes, Van Gaal could have a little room for experimentation. With that in mind, what should he try in this one?

Play James Wilson

James Wilson has played just eight minutes of senior competitive football this season. He has clearly outgrown the sparse competition available at under-21 level and needs a bigger test. Van Gaal has not sent him on loan, but neither has he been able to find a spot for the 19-year-old in United's lineup.

On September 25, Van Gaal explained why Wilson would not be going out on loan during the first part of the season, per Jamie Jackson of the Guardian, saying:

"

He is the natural successor of [Anthony] Martial but I think he needs to play. But Manchester United’s interests are always higher than individual interests so I have doubts to let him go.

Maybe we have to wait until December to know how it is with our club – if we are succeeding in the Champions League, the Capital One Cup, because maybe he shall receive minutes off me because I have to rotate.

"

The time has come for Wilson to get a game. Wayne Rooney's struggles at centre-forward have been well documented, and with Anthony Martial playing 90 minutes for eight of United's last nine fixtures, giving him a break could be a smart move.

Wilson needs some sort of match practice so he is ready if something befalls Rooney and Martial. This is the match in which he should get it.

Bring Memphis Depay back

Memphis Depay has struggled to adapt to life at Manchester United. He's three months into his debut campaign and has spent the past three games on the bench. Van Gaal has dropped him in order to accommodate Martial, Rooney and Ander Herrera in the same side, and he has been sensible to do so.

It was also sensible to take Memphis out of the firing line. His performances were attracting plenty of criticism, and for a young player having to adapt to very different circumstances, the lights of Old Trafford can shine very brightly indeed.

Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

He looked very disappointed, having spent around 20 minutes warming up, when Matteo Darmian had to replace Antonio Valencia following the latter's injury in the Manchester derby. It was Van Gaal's third substitution and meant Memphis would not be getting a game.

It is time to bring him in from the cold and give him a chance to help rebuild his confidence. Memphis' signing was a long-term investment, and giving him a game here would be sensible management of that investment.

Try a bolder formation

Given that what is likely to be an under-strength Championship side are the opposition, perhaps Van Gaal could experiment with a bolder midfield pairing—he could try playing Herrera at No. 8, alongside, say, Morgan Schneiderlin, with Jesse Lingard or Pereira at No. 10.

PAUL ELLIS/Getty Images

He could also revert to the 4-3-3 of last season—with Herrera and Marouane Fellaini ahead of Schneiderlin, or even Michael Carrick, who also needs game time. A more forward-thinking look to United's midfield would be a pleasing change of pace for Van Gaal, who has erred toward the conservative all season.

That could have a knock-on effect in bigger games later in the season, when United may be in need of an attacking performance or two. Knowing a more attacking option is available to him could be crucial if United are still competing for success by the time April and May roll around.